Dish-cleaner



(N0 Model.)

W. H. MULLINS. DISH CLEANER.

lJNiT STATES 7 ATENT rrion.

\VILLIAM I-I. MULLINS, OF SALEM, OHIO.

DlSH-CLEANER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 554,135, dated February 4, 1896.

Application filed July 8, 1895. Serial No. 555,268- (No model) To all whom it ncty concern.-

Be it'known that 1, WILLIAM H. MULLINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Salem, in the county of Columbiana and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dish-Washers; and I- do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in dish-washing apparatus, and has particular reference to a dish-washer of the rotating order, consisting, more particularly stated, in an outer reservoir within which is pivotally j ournaled a dish-receiving tray bearing a crank by which it may be rotated, and a lid or cover serving as a closure for the whole, said reservoir, tray, and covering bearing characteristic features of construction which willbe hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims following.

In the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification, and in which like letters indicate like parts wherever employed, Figure 1 represents a vertical central section of my invention, taken through the outer reservoir, the dish-tray, and lid. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the dish-receivingtray, showing its bail broken away; and Fig. 3 is a si1nilar view in a reverse or inverted position.

Reference being had to the drawings and letters thereon, A indicates an imperforate outer metallic reservoir of cylindrical form bearing upon its inner center or base an inverted cup-shaped socket B, within which is confined a ball 0, serving as a pivot for the dish-receiving tray now tobe described.

D indicates a dish-receiving tray, also by preference of metal, and of cylindrical form, being of a diameter less than reservoir A, within which it is thus adapted to be placed.

To permit a free circulation of water from reservoir A into and through tray D the latter is liberally perforated, as at E F, in its side walls G and its bottom H, respectively, as shown. The metal displaced by perforations F in bottom H is not removed but rather turned up at right angles, as shown by Fig. 1, to present at once a support for dishes placed within the tray D and means for preventing their direct contact with, and consequent obstruction of, said perforations. In addition to this the bottom H of tray D is provided with an exterior central depression I, adapted and designed to engage and turn upon ball 0 when in operative position. To the outside of walls G at points diametrically opposite is swiveled a bail J, which, ascending above tray D, crosses same transversely, while in line with said bail are riveted corresponding spring-clips K K, same being located upon one side of wall G immediately above and below the pivotal point of bail J, as shown most clearly by Figs. 2 and 3. L indicates a single crank-handle, which at its upper end is provided with a loose hand-knob M, and at its lower end penetrates the center of bail J, beneath which it is turned at right angles and rigidly attached.

Forming a jam fit with peripheral groove N in the upper edge of reservoir A, is a lid or cover 0, havinga central opening P, of a diameter slight-1y exceeding that of crank-handle L, which it is intended to receive. Lid or cover 0 being, like balance of the structure, made from sheet metal, by preference galvanized iron, is concave on its upper surface and indented by a series of radial grooves or drains Q, which have their beginning near the periphery of the cover and terminate at the opening P, their common center, into which they empty when serving as drains.

This being substantially the construction of my invention, its use and operation are as follows: Water having been heated to the boiling-point in reservoir A, the lid or cover 0 is removed, and tray D, filled with dishes to be washed,is nextlowered into the reservoir until depression I in the tray-bottom H engages the ball-bearing 0 upon which itv rests. Lid or cover 0 is then snugly replaced, the upwardlyextending crank-handle L, penetrating central opening P therein, being topped off with the detachable hand-knob M, by which knob and crank the tray and its contents may be freely revolved in one or both directions through the water contained in reservoir A. After this operation cover 0 should be again removed, tray D withdrawn from the reservoir, the cover replaced, and the dripping-tray rested thereon. In this position the cleansed dishes may be thoroughly rinsed by the application of more scalding water, which, finding its way through the dishes undergoing the process, passes through perforations F to the cover 0 and is conducted by grooves or drains Q through central opening P to the reservoir A below.

WVhile the above sets forth substantially the construction of my invention, its preferred mode of operation, and primary use, the device is capable of various other uses, prominent among which is its adaptation as a cooking utensil. In this capacity the tray D is rotated upon its pivoted bail J until springclip K engages said bail in like manner as the clip K had previously done. The device may now be used as a steamer, and meats, puddings, vegetables, or other articles of food may be placed upon the inverted bottom II of tray D, or in a suitable receptacle so placed, and lowered into a few inches of water contained within reservoir A. This being done, lid or cover 0 should be replaced and heat applied to the bottom of the reservoir, whereupon the steam thus generated and confined I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a dish-washer the combination with a reservoir, of a rotatable tray, a bail pivoted to the sides of said tray, a crank-handle attached to the bail, and means for retaining said bail in reversed positions, substantially as described.

2. I11 a dish-washer the combination with a reservoir, of a rota-table tray, a bail pivotallyconnected to the tray, spring-clips for securing said bail in reversed positions, a crankhandle attached to the bail, and a centrally perforated concave cover surrounding said crank bearing in its surface a series of radial grooves or drains, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I subscribe my signa ture in presence of two witnesses.

IVILLIAM H. MULLINS. lVitn esses:

W. E. HOWELL, C. L. FISHER. 

